Which Smart Energy Monitor Is Right For You? ShellyEM vs Sense

The sense energy monitor and the ShellyEM are both very capable smart energy monitors with a slightly different intended users. This video shows how to install and use them in your smart home.

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[TheHookUp]

A quick clarification note: I know the electrons shown in the animation are showing DC not AC current, this is a representation of my video editing skills, not my knowledge of physics. Please imagine that the animation takes place in less than 1/60th of a second :)

[mikescott]

I ordered the ShellyEM and didn't realize it shipped from Switzerland.
I placed the order on November 21 and it shipped on the 23rd.
It wasn't received by the USPS in Chicago until December 16 and was finally delivered today making the delivery time a little over one month!
Looking forward to hooking it up to my EVSE to monitor energy used to charge my car.

[samuraiintellectual]

The sense was a great idea. After 3 years of having it installed I now have “35 motor” notifications with very little information on how to determine what it actually is. The concept of crowd information to determine what’s what I thought was a great idea, however I don’t think they have enough installations to make that work. I had to turn off all notifications from the app as I was getting constant “a new motor has been detected” messages.

[TheJeffesterline]

You need to look at the Emporia Vue 2nd Gen. I have only had it installed for 3 weeks, but the information it provides is amazing. It uses a sensor for every circuit, up to 16, and you can use more than one unit if you have more than one panel. They have smart outlets to get more info about a monitored circuit, or monitor individual plugs in your home that are not monitored in your electric panel. No machine learning. I don't know about extracting your data, as I don't have a desire to use that feature.

[BroncoPatriot]

I don’t have the issues you experienced with Sense. I have over 40 devices showing up and only 5 of them are incorrect over the past year. The Shelly or any other solution is very costly when you decide to monitor more than a few devices. It is all about what you really want to monitor. I needed 6 devices to be monitored and the Sense was the most cost effective solution but took 3 months to benefit from that “investment.”

Also, you have limited space in your panel so to have multiple “clamps” with devices inside your panel could be dangerous and can be a nightmare to manage connectivity.

You are right though that Sense is hyped to be this great solution to discover devices but it does take a long time to do it and each home is different with line noise due to location, installation and quality of feed wires.

Overall, this area of smart tech isn’t very smart and has seemed to be very costly for those of us who would like to be more eco-friendly and curb our usage patterns. If the Shelly could be even more lower in cost similar to the switches then we would be able to monitor the right amount of devices without spending a ton of $$$.

[paulfontaine]

Of course your second AC is difficult to detect for the Sense: both ACs have the same power signature, it is very difficult for the Sense to distinguish them. I have the same issue with all my devices of similar power (signature)

[boogermeats]

This is a great video showing the features & shortfalls.

[DethpickleDave]

Awesome as usual. Folks in SoCal, don't over look using the rainforest eagle energy monitor. It can join your zigbee network to intercept the continuous power messages sent out by your utility's smart meter. It offers some cloud stuff, but also a local push that pretty easily goes into NodeRed/HA as well.

[AugmentedPixel]

I do building controls for DSG, Wallmart, Ikea ect. and they use the same type of product but also use smart breakers so that they can remotely turn off breakers and lights. Its pretty cool and easy to program

[jqzIII]

I got my smart energy monitor for $20.
Just a lil ltr-sdr dongle I bought on Amazon and connected to my Pi³.
Sniffin' my electric meters RF signal.
It was fun. Counts every last kWh too.

[fariddergal]

HI 8b my region we use 2 120v lines and they have different phase from each other, so to be accurate measuring each line, I had to put a single Shelly per line, to that the reference voltage is the same than the line measuring, that's the only thing you need to consider. great video thanks for sharing

[bigfan]

Great, detailed review. Machine Learning (Sense) us still pretty immature, despite all the media hype. It is a shame they do not allow a common sense manual approach to identify problematic devices.

[kenrodriguez]

Emporia Vue is best of both worlds. Measures the mains, and measures 8 breakers with CTs. Install is as easy as the Sense but none of the guesswork. Directly measuring my pool sub panel, Upstairs AC, downstairs AC, Laundry room, kitchen/fridge, office, and 2 other breakers directly. Software is transparent, no coding or learning curve. $100 - lot better deal than the Sense.

[MehrdadGivehchi]

Thanks for the video... I have both Sense and IOTAWATT and highly recommend IOTAWATT as this product is simply awesome and full of features.

[hannuhanhi]

Here in the modern world we use smart energy meters pulse output to measure the whole house electricity consumption. One esp32, one phototransistor some code, cost 10 € :)

[ChaseCares]

I would love to see an update about the Sense, do you still use it? Are there still a significant amount of devices that aren't picked up? and are there any features that improve the product since you last reviewed it?

[txcas]

How about an updated review using the Shelly 3EM?

[jensschroder]

it makes sense to connect the Shelly 2EM to 120 volts with split phase, with an angle of 180°
240 volt devices will draw power from both current sensors.
120V devices will only show power to one current sensor. One current sensor needs to be reversed.
It doesn't work that way on a three-phase current with an angle of 120°.

[nstevenson]

Ever consider a refresh on this topic with the newer and cheaper equipment now available?

[celsiusfahrenheit]

Insurance companies would not cover the damages done by DIY homeowners that doing electrical work, at least in Massachusetts. I do not care what people do in their homes but as a licensed electrician I would notify the local inspector and my insurance company if a homeowner would touch my work after I inspected it. Also in my career, I have seen skilled licensed professionals getting hurt for stupid things, accidents just happen sometimes and they can be serious. I will check out the monitors though :) cause I legally can LOL